ILM-Based Deletion of Customer and Vendor Master Data

As of enhancement package 7, SP 05 for SAP ECC 6.0, the business function ILM-Based Deletion of Customer and Vendor Master Data (ERP_CVP_ILM_1) is available that simplifies the blocking and deletion of customer and vendor master data by using SAP Information Lifecycle Management (ILM).

Effects on Existing Data

The function enables you to use the ILM component to support the deletion of customer and vendor master data. Personal data collected in business partner master data can be blocked as soon as business activities for which this data is needed are completed and the residence time for this data has elapsed; after this time, only users who are assigned additional authorizations can access this data. After the retention period for data expires, personal data can be deleted completely so that it can no longer be retrieved. Residence and retention periods must be defined in the customer system.

Effects on Data Transfer

An end of purpose check determines whether data is still relevant for business activities based on the residence period defined for the data. The retention period of data consists of the following phases:

Phase one: The relevant data is actively used
Phase two: The relevant data is actively available in the system
Phase three: The relevant data needs to be retained for other reasons
For example, processing of data is no longer required for the primary business purpose but the data must still be available to comply with legal rules for retention. In phase three, the relevant data is blocked.

Blocking of data prevents the business users from displaying and using data that may include personal data and is no longer relevant for business activities.

Blocking of data can impact system behavior in the following ways:

Display: The system does not display blocked data.
Change: It is not possible to change a business object that contains blocked data.
Create: It is not possible to create a business object that contains blocked data.
Copy/Follow-Up: It is not possible to copy a business object or follow-up a business object that contains blocked data.
Search: It is not possible to search for blocked data or to search for a business object using blocked data in the search criteria.

It is possible to display blocked data if a user has special authorization; however, it is still not possible to create, change, copy, or perform follow-up activities on the blocked data.

The area menu has been enhanced by the following new entries:

Block Customer and Vendor Master Data (transaction cvp_pre_eop)
Request Unblocking (transaction bup_req_unblk)
Unblock Customer and Vendor Master Data (transaction cvp_unblock_md)
Display Stored Application Logs for Customer and Vendor (transaction display_cvp_log)

Effects on Customizing

To use ILM to simplify the deletion of customer master and vendor master data:

Activate the business function ILM-Based Deletion of Customer and Vendor Master Data (ERP_CVP_ILM_1) and ILM-Based Deletion of Business Partner Data (BUPA_ILM_BF).
Make the necessary Customizing settings related to ILM in Customizing under SAP NetWeaver Application Server Basis Services Information Lifecycle Management .
Run transaction IRMPOL and maintain the required residence and retention policies for the ILM objects.
Make the necessary Customizing settings related to blocking and deletion of customer and vendor master data in Customizing under Logistics - General Business Partner Deletion of Customer and Vendor Master Data .
Customizing settings can also be made under Financial Accounting (New) Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable Deletion of Customer and Vendor Master Data .

More Information

SAP Library for Data Protection under Start of the navigation path SAP ERP Next navigation step SAP ERP Cross-Application Functions Cross-Application Components Data Protection Deletion of Customer Master Data and Deletion of Vendor Master Data. End of the navigation path .